Lighting apparatus for a gaming machine cabinet

ABSTRACT

A lighting apparatus for a gaming machine cabinet comprising: a spot light source which emits light relative to a central emission axis; and a translucent diffuser spaced from the spot light source, the diffuser comprising an inner portion located so as to intercept light emitted along the emission axis and an outer portion spaced from the emission axis, the inner and outer portions arranged such that the diffuser prevents transmission of more light in the region of the inner portion than in the region of the outer portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of priority as a continuationof U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/142,265 filed on Dec. 27, 2013,entitled “LIGHTING APPARATUS FOR A GAMING MACHINE CABINET,” which claimsthe benefit of priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/612,155filed on Sep. 12, 2012, entitled “LIGHTING APPARATUS FOR A GAMINGMACHINE CABINET,” which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/113,589, filed on May 23, 2011, entitled“LIGHTING APPARATUS FOR A GAMING MACHINE CABINET,” which claims thebenefit of priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/245,552,filed on Oct. 3, 2008, entitled “LIGHTING APPARATUS FOR A GAMING MACHINECABINET,” which claims the benefit of priority to Australian ProvisionalPatent Application No. 2007905466, filed on Oct. 5, 2007, entitled“LIGHTING APPARATUS FOR A GAMING MACHINE CABINET”, each of which isherein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a lighting apparatus for a gamingmachine cabinet, a gaming machine cabinet and a translucent diffuser.

BACKGROUND

The aesthetics of a cabinet of a gaming machine, and indeed of the gamehoused by the gaming machine, can influence a player's enjoyment of thegaming machine.

Accordingly, much effort is placed into designing aestheticallyappealing artwork to place on the cabinet. Such artwork is often backlitby lighting within the cabinet.

There is a need for alternative lighting techniques suitable forbacklighting such artwork.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, the invention provides lighting apparatus for agaming machine cabinet including:

-   -   a spot light source which emits light relative to a central        emission axis; and    -   a translucent diffuser spaced from the spot light source, the        diffuser including an inner portion located so as to intercept        light emitted along the emission axis and an outer portion        spaced from the emission axis, the inner and outer portions        arranged such that the diffuser prevents transmission of more        light in the region of the inner portion than in the region of        the outer portion.

In an embodiment, the inner and outer portions are made of the samematerial.

In an embodiment, the inner portion is circular and the outer portionincludes a plurality of arms extending from the inner portion.

In an embodiment, each of the arms tapers such that the diffuser is starshaped.

In an embodiment, there are 8 to 16 arms.

In an embodiment, there are 10 to 14 arms.

In an embodiment, there are 12 arms.

In an embodiment, the diffuser is mounted on a translucent supportmember.

In an embodiment, the emitted light of the light source includes abright central component centered around the emission axis.

In an embodiment, the light source emits light in a polar pattern.

In an embodiment, the light source is a light emitting diode.

In an embodiment, the diffuser is spaced from the light source by adistance in the range of 10-20 mm.

In an embodiment, the distance is about 15 mm.

In an embodiment, the lighting apparatus includes a plurality of lightsources and a plurality of diffusers paired with respective ones of thelight source.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a gaming machine cabinetincluding:

-   -   a spot light source which emits light relative to a central        emission axis;    -   a translucent diffuser spaced from the spot light source, the        diffuser including an inner portion located so as to intercept        light emitted along the emission axis and an outer portion        spaced from the emission axis, the inner and outer portions        arranged such that the diffuser prevents transmission of more        light in the region of the inner portion than in the region of        the outer portion; and an artwork carrying portion arranged to        be illuminated by light emitted from the light source.

In an embodiment, the artwork carrying portion is spaced from the lightsource by a distance in the range of 80-120 mm.

In an embodiment, the artwork carrying portion is spaced from the lightsource by a distance of about 100 mm.

In an embodiment, the inner and outer portions are made of the samematerial.

In an embodiment, the inner portion is circular and the outer portionincludes a plurality of arms extending from the inner portion.

In an embodiment, each of the arms tapers such that the diffuser is starshaped.

In an embodiment, there are 8 to 16 arms.

In an embodiment, the diffuser is mounted on a translucent supportmember.

In an embodiment, the emitted light of the light source includes abright central component centered around the emission axis.

In an embodiment, the light source emits light in a polar pattern.

In an embodiment, the light source is a light emitting diode.

In an embodiment, the diffuser is spaced from the light source by adistance in the range of 10-20 mm.

In an embodiment, the distance is about 15 mm.

In an embodiment, the gaming machine includes a plurality of lightsources and a plurality of diffusers paired with respective ones of thelight source.

In a third aspect, the invention provides a translucent diffuser fordiffusing light from a spot light source, the diffuser including aninner portion adapted to be located so as to intercept light emittedalong an emission axis by the light source and an outer portion spacedfrom the emission axis, the inner and outer portions arranged such that,in use, the diffuser prevents transmission of more light in the regionof the inner portion than in the region of the outer portion.

In an embodiment, the inner and outer portions are made of the samematerial.

In an embodiment, the inner portion is circular and the outer portionincludes a plurality of arms extending from the inner portion.

In an embodiment, each of the arms tapers such that the diffuser is starshaped.

In an embodiment, there are 8 to 16 arms.

In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a lighting apparatus for agaming machine cabinet including:

-   -   a light source which emits light in a brightness pattern; and    -   a substantially planar translucent diffuser spaced from the        light source and formed to transmit incident light from the        light source proportionally to the inverse of the brightness        pattern, whereby the light output by the lighting apparatus is        substantially uniform in the region of the diffuser.

In an embodiment, the shape of the diffuser is configured to controltransmittal of the incident light.

In an embodiment, the diffuser has a circular inner portion and an outerportion including a plurality of arms extending from the inner portion.

In an embodiment, each of the arms tapers such that the diffuser is starshaped.

In an embodiment, there are 8 to 16 arms.

In an embodiment, the diffuser is mounted on a translucent supportmember.

In an embodiment, the brightness pattern of the light source includes abright central component centered around an emission axis.

In an embodiment, the light source emits light in a polar pattern.

In an embodiment, the light source is a light emitting diode.

In an embodiment, the diffuser is spaced from the light source by adistance in the range of 10-20 mm.

In an embodiment, the lighting apparatus includes a plurality of lightsources and a plurality of diffusers paired with respective ones of thelight source.

In a fifth aspect, the invention provides a gaming machine cabinetincluding:

-   -   a light source which emits light in a brightness pattern;    -   a substantially planar translucent diffuser spaced from the        light source and formed to transmit incident light from the        light source proportionally to the inverse of the brightness        pattern, whereby the light output by the lighting apparatus is        substantially uniform in the region of the diffuser; and an        artwork carrying portion arranged to be illuminated by light        emitted from the light source.

In an embodiment, the shape of the diffuser is configured to controltransmittal of the incident light.

In an embodiment, the diffuser has a circular inner portion and an outerportion including a plurality of arms extending from the inner portion.

In an embodiment, each of the arms tapers such that the diffuser is starshaped.

In an embodiment, there are 8 to 16 arms.

In an embodiment, the diffuser is mounted on a translucent supportmember.

In an embodiment, the brightness pattern of the light source includes abright central component centered around an emission axis.

In an embodiment, the light source emits light in a polar pattern.

In an embodiment, the light source is a light emitting diode.

In an embodiment, the diffuser is spaced from the light source by adistance in the range of 10-20 mm.

In an embodiment, the gaming machine cabinet includes a plurality oflight sources and a plurality of diffusers paired with respective onesof the light source.

In a sixth aspect, the invention provides a translucent diffuser fordiffusing light emitted by a light source in a brightness pattern, thediffuser being substantially planar and formed to transmit incidentlight from the light source proportionally to the inverse of thebrightness pattern, whereby the light output by the lighting apparatusis substantially uniform in the region of the diffuser.

In an embodiment, the shape of the diffuser is configured to controltransmittal of the incident light.

In an embodiment, the diffuser has a circular inner portion and an outerportion including a plurality of arms extending from the inner portion.

In an embodiment, each of the arms tapers such that the diffuser is starshaped.

In an embodiment, there are 8 to 16 arms.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Certain exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described inrelation to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gaming machine of an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section of a portion of the gaming machine;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a diffuser box;

FIG. 4 shows the relative position of artwork, diffuser and lightsource;

FIG. 5 shows a polar radiation pattern of an LED;

FIG. 6 is a plot of brightness on the artwork at 100 mm;

FIG. 7 is a plot of brightness on the diffuser box for LEDs 80 mm apart;

FIG. 8 shows the transparency characteristics of the diffuser;

FIG. 9 shows the output of the diffuser with the secondary diffusingstar;

FIG. 10 shows an alternative arrangement where the LEDs are 60 mm apart;and

FIG. 11 is a plot of light incident of the diffuser box.

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofcertain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understoodwhen read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose ofillustrating the invention, certain embodiments are shown in thedrawings. It should be understood, however, that the present inventionis not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in theattached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain embodiments are described in relation to an example where alighting apparatus is incorporated within the cabinet of a gamingmachine to light artwork.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that in the case of a gamingmachine, most aspects of the game are implemented on the game machinealthough functions such as a jackpot function may be implemented on aremote server when a gaming machine is part of a gaming network.

In the context of server based gaming, a cabinet with a display forviewing the game and operable by the player to play the game issometimes referred to as an “interactive video terminal” (IVT) orsimilar to provide a distinction from stand alone gaming machines as theIVT acts as a client and implements some parts of the game, such asoutput of images to the display and receipt of gaming instructions frombuttons or a touch screen while other aspects of the game areimplemented on a gaming server. However, it will be appreciated thatsuch IVTs will take a similar outward form to standalone gaming machinesand accordingly, herein should be understood as falling within themeaning of a “gaming machine” and as having a gaming machine cabinetunless the context implies otherwise.

A stand alone gaming machine 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1. The gamingmachine 10 cabinet 12 has a display 14 on which is displayedrepresentations of a game 16 that can be played by a player. The display14 is a liquid crystal display, but may be a cathode ray tube, plasmascreen, or any other suitable video display unit. A mid-trim 20 of thegaming machine 10 houses a bank of buttons for enabling a player tointeract with the gaming machine, in particular during game play. Themid-trim 20 also houses a credit input mechanism 24 which in thisexample includes a coin input chute 24A, a printer 24B, and a billcollector 24C. Other credit input mechanisms may also be employed, forexample, a card reader for reading a smart card, debit card or creditcard. A player marketing module 30 is provided above the display 14,which has reading device provided for the purpose of reading a playertracking device, for example as part of a loyalty program. The playertracking device may be in the form of a card, flash drive or any otherportable storage medium capable of being read by the reading device.There is a light tower (or “candle”) on the top of the cabinet 12 whichis capable of outputting a plurality of different coloured lights inresponse to the operating state of the machine. For example, to indicatea fault or a security breach or in response to a player request for apersonal service such as collecting a jackpot payout or ordering abeverage.

In the embodiment, artwork 50 which is intended to be backlit isprovided towards the top of the cabinet 12. Persons skilled in the artwill appreciate that artwork may be located on other parts of a gamingcabinet, for example, on the belly 90.

FIG. 2 shows the relationship of the lighting apparatus to the artwork50. The cross-section of FIG. 2 (which is through the upper portion ofthe gaming machine cabinet 12) shows that a diffuser box 60 is mountedto surround a plurality of light emitting devices (LEDs) 70 which ismounted to a circuit board 75 which provides the necessary electricalconnections for driving the LEDs. The cabinet 12 includes a reflector 80for reflecting laterally transmitted light towards the artwork 50. Thediffuser box 60 is shown in a front view in FIG. 3 from which will beapparent that it is mounted to the cabinet 12 by mounting points 64 a,64 b and has four star shaped diffusers 62 which are paired withrespective ones of four LEDs in this example.

Each of the diffuser stars 62 is intended to overlay a “hot spot” on thediffuser box 60 caused by the projection of light from the LED whichprovides a spotlight source. The diffuser stars 62 act to diminish the“hot spot” effect of spot light sources such that a more even light isprojected on the artwork 50.

As is shown in FIG. 5, light is emitted from the LED 70 in a polarradiation pattern 530. The radiation pattern 30 is represented in thegraph of FIG. 5 by showing the relative percentage of light transmittedon axis 510 relative to various angles 520. It will be seen that thelight is strongest along the central transmission axis of the LED 70which is represented as the 0° mark. Accordingly, the light intensityfalls off to below 80% by the time the light is 40 degrees off centre.Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the region immediately aroundthe central emission axis of the LED leads to a “hot spot”. Without theadvantageous diffusers of embodiments of the invention, such a hot spotcan provide an uneven lighting effect which mitigates against otherbeneficial properties of LED lighting, including that LEDs userelatively little power, are compact and are easy to control.

In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the diffuser box 60which carries the diffuser stars 62 is spaced by about 15 mm from an LED70 which is mounted on printed circuit board 75. The LED is spaced byabout 100 mm from artwork 50. Persons skilled in the art will appreciatethat these distances can be varied depending on the implementation, forexample, the distance a between the LED 70 and the diffuser box 60 couldbe in the range of 10 mm to 20 mm and the distance b between the LED andthe artwork could be in the range of 80 mm to 120 mm.

FIG. 6 illustrates typical brightness on the artwork at 100 mm from anLED without a diffuser with 1.0 being allocated to the maximum relativebrightness on a brightness axis 620 and the other axis of the graph 600representing distance from the central emission axis of the LED.

Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the light that is received onthe LED is not uniform. In determining how to control the light thatilluminates the artwork, it is convenient to examine the light that isincident on the diffuser box 60 which is illustrated in FIG. 11 wherethe graph 1100 plots 1130 the relative brightness 1120 relative todistance 1110 at a distance approximately 15 mm away from the LED.

In practice, as indicated in FIG. 3, there will be a plurality of LEDs.Accordingly, the diffuser is designed to compensate for the plurality ofLEDs. Referring to FIG. 7, there is shown a plot 730 of relativebrightness 720 relative to distance 710. Distance is expressed as adistance from a first central emission axis of a first LED to a secondcentral emission axis of a second LED spaced 80 mm apart. As can be seenfrom FIG. 7, the minimum relative value of brightness 740 is about 0.1about half way between the two LEDs. The star diffuser is designed, bytaking the minimum brightness and multiplying it by two in order todetermine where the outer periphery of the star diffuser should startand have, radius of the star diffuser. In this case, this results in astar diffuser radius 24 mm. The body of the star is chosen to be halfthe full radius, i.e. to have a 12 mm radius. The transparency of thesecondary diffuser is determined to be 0.2 such that the core brightnessof the star is also twice the minimum brightness.

Accordingly, as indicated in FIG. 8, there is a first portion 742 a ofthe star diffuser which is 12 mm in radius which has a relativebrightness effect of 0.2 and a second 744 a where there is a gradationfrom 0.2 to full transmission 740.

This, as shown in the graph 900 of FIG. 9, produces a composite output750 which is substantially constant in the sense that it has a smallvariation relative to the variation without the diffuser. Personsskilled in the art will appreciate that the purpose of the star diffuseris to provide an inverse function to a light emission pattern of thelight source and hence that other diffusers which provide an inversefunction may be employed.

It will be apparent that the radius of the star is selected at a pointwhere the brightness is twice the minimum level and the transparency ofthe star is calculated by doubling the minimum transmitted light.

FIG. 10 shows an alternative arrangement where the two LEDs are 60 mmapart. The graph 1000 of FIG. 10 is of relative brightness 1020,relative to distance 1010 with zero being the central emission axis ofone of the LEDs. In this case, the minimum brightness is approximately0.18 and accordingly, the point which is equal to twice the minimumbrightness is 0.36 which corresponds to a radius of approximately 14 mm.The transparency of the star as chosen to be 36% to reduce the peakoutput to 0.26.

FIG. 10 includes plots 100 of the brightness as incident on the diffuserbox 1030, relative translucency 1040 of the stars and the diffuseroutput 1050.

In an embodiment, the diffuser box itself has a translucency of about 60to 65% and accordingly, when combined with the star diffuser, thecomposite translucency would be in the case of the example illustratedin FIG. 9 around 13%.

As indicated above, the star pattern matches the entire hot spotarea—i.e. where light is not more than twice the minimum brightness andthe solid core is chosen to about 50% of the entire hot spot. In anembodiment, so that a similar material can be used to form a stardiffuser and overlay on the diffuser box, the inner core and outer armportions of the star are formed of the same material. Accordingly, theouter arms taper like rays to a point in order to gradually reduce theamount of light blocked by the star diffuser. Persons skilled in the artwill appreciate that other variations of the shape of the star diffusercan be achieved. For example, solid arms which terminate at differentdistances from the centre of the diffuser or stepped arms.

Further, persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the stardiffuser and the diffuser box provide a composite diffuser. This isachieved in this embodiment by overlaying the star diffuser on thediffuser box. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that in otherembodiments the diffuser box and the star diffusers could be formed byetching the diffuser box.

Other variations will be apparent to persons skilled in the art and inparticular, it will be appreciated that various features described abovecan be combined to form further embodiments.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of theinvention, except where the context requires otherwise due to expresslanguage or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variationssuch as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e.,to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude thepresence or addition of further features in various embodiments of theinvention.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred toherein, such reference does not constitute an admission that thepublication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, inAustralia or any other country.

Several embodiments are described above with reference to the drawings.These drawings illustrate certain details of specific embodiments thatimplement the systems and methods and programs of the present invention.However, describing the invention with drawings should not be construedas imposing on the invention any limitations associated with featuresshown in the drawings. The present invention contemplates methods,systems and program products on any electronic device and/ormachine-readable media suitable for accomplishing its operations.Certain embodiments of the present invention may be implemented using anexisting computer processor and/or by a special purpose computerprocessor incorporated for this or another purpose or by a hardwiredsystem, for example.

Embodiments within the scope of the present invention include programproducts comprising machine-readable media for carrying or havingmachine-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon. Suchmachine-readable media can be any available media that can be accessedby a general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with aprocessor. By way of example, such machine-readable media may compriseRAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, Flash, CD-ROM or other optical diskstorage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or anyother medium which can be used to carry or store desired program code inthe form of machine-executable instructions or data structures and whichcan be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer orother machine with a processor. When information is transferred orprovided over a network or another communications connection (eitherhardwired, wireless, or a combination of hardwired or wireless) to amachine, the machine properly views the connection as a machine-readablemedium. Thus, any such a connection is properly termed amachine-readable medium. Combinations of the above are also includedwithin the scope of machine-readable media. Machine-executableinstructions comprise, for example, instructions and data which cause ageneral purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purposeprocessing machines to perform a certain function or group of functions.

Method steps associated with certain embodiments may be implemented inone embodiment by a program product including machine-executableinstructions, such as program code, for example in the form of programmodules executed by machines in networked environments. Generally,program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, datastructures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particularabstract data types. Machine-executable instructions, associated datastructures, and program modules represent examples of program code forexecuting steps of the methods disclosed herein. The particular sequenceof such executable instructions or associated data structures representsexamples of corresponding acts for implementing the functions describedin such steps.

1. A translucent diffuser for an electronic gaming machine for diffusinglight from a spot light source, the diffuser comprising an inner portionadapted to be located so as to intercept light emitted along an emissionaxis by the light source and an outer portion spaced from the emissionaxis, the inner and outer portions arranged such that, in use, thediffuser prevents transmission of more light in the region of the innerportion than in the region of the outer portion, the transmission oflight formed by the diffuser proportionally to an inverse of abrightness pattern emitted by the light source.
 2. A translucentdiffuser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner and outer portions aremade of the same material.
 3. A translucent diffuser as claimed in claim1, wherein the inner portion is circular and the outer portion comprisesa plurality of arms extending from the inner portion.
 4. A translucentdiffuser as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of the arms tapers suchthat the diffuser is star shaped.
 5. A translucent diffuser as claimedin claim 3, wherein there are 8 to 16 arms.
 6. A translucent diffuser asclaimed in claim 3, wherein there are 10 to 14 arms.
 7. A translucentdiffuser as claimed in claim 3, wherein there are 12 arms.
 8. Atranslucent diffuser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the diffuser ismounted on a translucent support member.
 9. A translucent diffuser asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the diffuser is spaced from the light sourceby a distance in the range of 10-20 mm.
 10. A translucent diffuser asclaimed in claim 12, wherein the distance is about 15 mm.
 11. Atranslucent diffuser for an electronic gaming machine for diffusinglight emitted by a light source in a brightness pattern, the diffusercomprising a portion being substantially planar and formed to transmitincident light from the light source proportionally to the inverse ofthe brightness pattern, wherein the diffuser is configured such that thelight output by the light source is substantially uniform in a region ofthe diffuser.
 12. A translucent diffuser as claimed in claim 11, whereinthe shape of the diffuser is configured to control transmittal of theincident light.
 13. A translucent diffuser as claimed in claim 12,wherein the diffuser has a circular inner portion and an outer portioncomprising a plurality of arms extending from the inner portion.
 14. Atranslucent diffuser as claimed in claim 13, wherein each of the armstapers such that the diffuser is star shaped.
 15. A translucent diffuseras claimed in claim 13, wherein there are 8 to 16 arms.
 16. Atranslucent diffuser as claimed in claim 13, wherein there are 10 to 14arms.
 17. A translucent diffuser as claimed in claim 13, wherein thereare 12 arms.
 18. A translucent diffuser as claimed in claim 11, whereinthe diffuser is mounted on a translucent support member.
 19. Atranslucent diffuser as claimed in claim 11, wherein the diffuser isspaced from the light source by a distance in the range of 10-20 mm. 20.A translucent diffuser as claimed in claim 19, wherein the distance isabout 15 mm.